Method for producing aromatic nitriles

Abstract

Aromatic nitriles can be produced in high yields by ammoxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound in the presence of a catalyst containing oxides of (1) vanadium, (2) antimony and (3) at least one of uranium and chromium, even when concentration of the starting aromatic compound in the starting gas is high or mixing ratio of ammonia to the starting aromatic compound is reduced to the neighborhood of the stoichiometric equivalent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing aromatic nitriles which comprises reacting an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound with ammonia and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing, as active ingredients, oxides of (1) vanadium, (2) antimony and (3) at least one of uranium and chromium. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst contains oxides of (1) vanadium, (2) antimony and (3) at least one of uranium and chromium in the atomic ratio of 1:0.1 to 10:0.1 to 5.0. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst contains oxides of (1) vanadium, (2) antimony and (3) at least one of uranium and chromium in the atomic ratio of 1:0.5 to 5:0.01 to 2.0. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst contains oxides of (1) vanadium, (2) antimony and (3) at least one of uranium and chromium in the atomic ratio of 1:1.0 to 3.0:0.02 to 1.0. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out at the temperature ranging from 180° to 600° C. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out at the temperature ranging from 300° to 500° C. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl-substituted aromatic compound is mesitylene. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in a fixed bed of the catalyst. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is supported on alumina or titanium oxide.